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Post by paulk on Sept 7, 2021 12:35:38 GMT -6
Love it! Love it! Thanks
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 7, 2021 15:22:01 GMT -6
Andy went with Chase to a joint meeting with Chief Hartman and Sheriff Gilmore on the Joint Intel Center.
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid we'll have to go back to almost square one on the setup of the training. I've looked over the syllabus and concur with what Pat Goode had set up. I think we can pick up at scheduling the training and organizing the setup of the Center."
Earl looked over at Dale. "I believe we can safely say we have an area selected for the Center. We need to rough out what we'll need to furnish it. As for the training. We have four people from each department to be trained, not including liaisons from the Colorado State Patrol."
"Can you write me up something up on what the duties of the liaisons entail? Believe me, you don't want overseers from Lakewood acting as political obstacles to your efforts."
"If we find they want to play like that, we'll declare them personae non grata and refuse them access to the Center. We're here for the safety of the citizens of Mesa County, not to be playing political games with the Department of Public Safety."
"Roger that! Okay, I propose we use the Center itself as the classroom and as a training vehicle so our trainees can see for themselves when another piece of equipment is needed to streamline things. I'm sure the first thing that will have to go in is a coffee pot."
Earl grinned. "Sounds about right. Do you want to look at the area we propose?"
"Yes, of course." Chase said.
Earl walked them down a hall to a set of rooms and opened a door. Chase walked in and looked around.
"Well, the space will be adequate but there's going to have to be some remodeling done. You're going to have to turn this into a secure facility."
"Well, we'll have to iron out the funding with the County Commissioners and the City Council." Dale said.
"Hell, that could take months! Chase, do a survey and make a list of what needs to be done. We'll find funding and give it as a grant to both departments so the Council and Commissioners can't get their fingers in the pie."
"Andy, I don't….."
"Earl, it' a done deal. Chase, I'm going to put Dave on this with you so you can do your main job."
Andy went back and met with Cal and told him what had gone down.
"Leave Dave out of it. You've got more important things for him to do. Use Mitch Carr and Darryl. I know for a fact Darryl has built secure facilities in the middle of Indian country."
"Cal, Mitch is a…"
"Andy, I know what Mitch is. Who better do you know that could crack anything that is seemingly impossible? He can advise you on the best hardware available."
"You're right. Okay, I promised some grants…"
"Work up a total for everything and I'll split it down the middle for each department."
Cal grinned. "Anything else? Back rub maybe?"
"Bite me." Andy grinned.
Chase walked into the Facility, headed for his office.
"Hey Sherlock! Got a minute?" Jeanie asked.
Chase veered over to her office. Patty was there with her.
"Look, Patty and I put together this search engine for you. Actually, I kind of stole it from another agency that uses it for data mining and we made a few improvements. You just put in your parameters and it will search the internet and spit you out everything about a subject, current activities, etcetera. You can plug in your search parameters before going home and read it in the morning and enjoy your coffee. We'll also be pulling up Intel estimates that are produced in the major agencies and feed them to you.'
"Is that legal?"
"Hey, you want legal, we'll pass you the Victoria Secrets catalog."
"As long as you don't get caught."
"Nah. We run them through the Speaker of the House's server before it's bounced to dozens of remote servers and routers."
Chase walked onto the common patio at the apartment house and took a deep breath. He had been typing for hours and the cold air felt good. Thanksgiving was tomorrow and Siobhan had coerced…well, maybe not…she asked him to help serve. He didn't mind. He enjoyed being around the people here. Stretching his arms above his head, he yawned. Turning, he went back inside and went to bed.
Siobhan thought the attendance was greater than last year, but everything was orderly conducted. The servers plated the first round, after that, you were on your own. They had two tall stacks of take-out boxes for people to get what they wanted. There was no doubt a few pounds were going to be put on this holiday season.
Chase finally got his plate and kept quiet because it wasn't polite to talk when you were stuffing your face. Everything was so delicious!. He finally had to stop or he'd eat himself sick.
Getting up, he dumped his eating utensils and plate. Pulling on his coat, he decided to take a walk to settle his meal. Walking out on the patio, he spied the walking track and decided to follow it. He walked down until the the gate of the gardens and decided to take a look. Opening the gate, he chose the middle path and slowly walked down to the sound of water. His eyes were on the lake when he heard, "It's peaceful, isn't it?"
Chase looked to his left and there was Gale sitting on a bench. "Yes, very peaceful," he replied.
He stood there and gazed over the garden and the lake.
"Have you ever been married?" Gale asked.
Chase sighed. "Yeah, once, to a beautiful woman. Like Forrest Gump said, we went together like peas and carrots. I think our hearts even beat in unison.
I had all these plans laid out for us for the rest of our lives. Then came the day she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. One day, I saw our plans stretching into the future, the next day I couldn't see two feet in front of my face.
"How did you manage get through that?"
"After she passed, I put one foot in front of the other, threw myself into my work, and tried to keep the faith."
"How could you keep faith after something like that?"
Chase turned to Gale and said, "because I had nothing else left to hold on to."
He put his hands in his pockets, bowed his head and turned, walking back up the path.
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Post by paulk on Sept 7, 2021 16:05:18 GMT -6
You are so, so good.
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Post by bluefox2 on Sept 7, 2021 16:50:56 GMT -6
The master's garden middle path strikes again.
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Post by paulk on Sept 8, 2021 12:39:46 GMT -6
More please!!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 8, 2021 13:48:19 GMT -6
Cal went down to Level 3 to see Charlie.
"What's up Boss?"
"I need a horse's head."
"A what?"
"A…horse….head."
"A real one?"
"If possible, from a taxidermist, or a fake one closely approximating the dimensions of a horse head."
Charlie looked at him, bewildered. "Oka-a-a-y, I'll see what I can do."
"Cal, George Powell's wife was killed outside the of Marshall's at the mall this morning." Andy said.
"What! How?"
"A guy grabbed her purse and pulled her off balance and she slammed her head into a concrete light post base. She was DOA."
"I'll get Siobhan on this. Christine's daughter goes to the school."
Cal went and found Siobhan in the laundry room.
"Siobhan, Christine Powell was killed in a robbery this morning at the mall."
"I'll get the women together. I think it's best to leave Paula in school. I'll tell Kathy and make sure no one approaches her."
The rage smoldered in Cal. Crimes happened all the time in the cities, but this hit too close to home. This was a cherished neighbor.
Cal called Andy. "Get as many of your people together as possible. I want a brainstorming session in the morning at 0900."
Cal went to Serenity Gardens and sat on the bench by the Koi pond.
The next morning, the large conference room in the Facility was filled, some even standing against the wall. Cal came in with Dale and Cyn.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I want some ideas. Yesterday, Christine Powell was killed in front of Marshall's by the acts of a purse snatcher. I don't care what the 'feel good' segment say, there is no victimless crime, no matter how small. Leniency has become the norm in prosecutions. I want to turn this around."
"We can make the perp disappear." Dave offered.
Cyn cringed.
"That would take too long for the effect to be noticed." Cal said.
"Well, work from the bottom up." Patty said. "Set up a citizen's advocacy that addresses victim's rights. Out the activist judges and lawyers and make sure the criminals pay, one way or another, for their crime. Be very, very vocal."
Cal looked around. Well, that seems to be the most legal thing we can do. We'll go with that for now and expand if needed."
Cal turned to Cyn and Dale. "Find me a building. I want plenty of parking all the way around it. Get with Diana. Start a campaign to raise funds for the Christine Powell Citizen;s Advocacy Center."
"Andy, when they find a building, check the security aspects. I want it mob-proof, because when word gets out, I'm sure we will have visitors."
"Okay, that's it. If one of you comes up with any more 'legal' ideas, let Andy know. Thanks."
Cal kept his seat and motioned to Chase and Andy.
"Chase, how's the training going?"
"Very well, We've been integrating the software and teaching the group how to use it. The liaisons are on board. They finally admitted they resented Lakewood's lack of inclusiveness when it comes to sharing information and are willing to work with us."
"Well, if need be, use Jeanie and Patty."
"We will."
"When will you be ready to go fully operational?"
"Two weeks."
"Good. Andy, have you thought of having a liaison in the Center?"
"Yes, I'll rotate people in with overlapping coverage."
"Great."
"Cal," Chase said, "That flash drive I received contained some information on ANTIFA I think you should be aware of. They are getting armed and have started taking out targeted people in some areas. It hasn't come to Colorado yet, but, it will sooner or later."
"Okay, keep me informed."
"Jeanie and Patty are putting together a daily intel brief, some national but mostly regional information that can and could affect us."
"Now you're making me feel like the President."
Andy laughed. "You are! President Cal, President of the Sovereign State of Caldonia!"
Cal brushed him off. "How do I get access to the Intel Brief?
"Log in on the SecNET and a link will be on the main page."
Cal took a deep breath and sighed. "We've come a long way, haven't we Andy?"
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 8, 2021 13:52:21 GMT -6
The Christmas party was a great success again. Everyone knew what to do And everything just fell into place. It was just a large family enjoying the festivities, food and watching the bright eyes of the children. Having friends and family around made the food taste better, the Christmas carols more joyful, and the mulled cider sweeter.
Chase sat at the fire pit behind the Community Center, poking the logs with a stick and listening to the children singing Jingle Bells. A stream of light flashed across the patio as Gale stepped out of the building. Pushing her hands deeper into her parka pockets she walked over to the fire pit.
"Feel like some company?" Gale asked.
"Sure, have a seat." Chase handed her one of the chair cushions he'd gotten out of the storage shed to sit on.
"Too stuffy inside?"
"Nah. Just like the fresh air."
Chase poked the burning logs a couple of more times and added another.
"To be truthful, this is the closest I've been to a Christmas Party in years." Chase said, staring into the fire.
Gale wrapped her arms around her knees. "Maybe it's a sign you are healing."
"Humph."
"Don't go away!" Gale said, hurrying into the Center.
She soon returned with two ceramic tankards and handed Chase one.
"It has a little bit of Darryl's elixir in it. Just enough to curl your nose hair, or at least that's what Andy said."
Chase took a taste. Then another. "Not bad."
Between the sips the two sat their tankards down on the edge of the fire pit to keep the contents warm.
"What are you planning Christmas day?" Gale asked.
"Oh, go to the Rec Center, read a book, relax…something."
"Do you ride a trail bike?"
"I have." Chase replied.
"Well, I was going to do about what you were going to do, but I think I want to take one of the Rokon bikes out of the equipment hangar and ride back into the hills and find somewhere sheltered, build a fire and feed it the rest of the afternoon."
"Hm-m-m-m, sounds nice."
Gale bent over and picked up her tankard and took a sip. "Well, are you going with me?"
Chase picked up his tankard and took a sip. "What time?"
"Meet me at ten at the equipment hangar."
"Okay."
The Intel Center came on line just after New Year's and was feeling its way along but gaining momentum. Cyn found an empty Walgreens that Cal bought right out. Andy and Darryl went over it with fine toothed comb and began making security enhancements. Glass windows were replaced with ALON, transparent aluminum armor. Provisions were made for immediate lock down. There wasn't a bank building more secure in the city.
A public relations company was hired to get the information out far and wide. There were a couple of hundred people at the Center for the dedication. They didn't expect any demonstrators for the dedication, but Andy and his people, plus plain-clothes police and Sheriff's Deputies were scattered throughout the crowd.
Cal was given the signal and he stepped to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today we honor the name and life of a beloved member of this county whose life was taken by a repeat offender, who time and time again was released back into the community by our corrupt judicial system. Law enforcement's hands are tied and are as frustrated as the citizenry. The Christine Powell Citizen's Advocacy Center empowers the people to protect themselves and the people and places they care about, it. It will address victim's rights lost through the efforts of the 'feel good' segment of our nation. It will endeavor to see that criminals pay for their crimes and not just get a vacation with three hots and a cot. The Center will be staffed with trained counselors to help the people get through the stress and bereavement of crimes committed on themselves and their loved ones. Lawyers will be available to fight for restitution from loss, damage, or injury. Criminals here will no longer have the benefit of the slaps on the wrist they are used to. We resolve to make sure crime is seen as a crime and not a social aberration. We're putting power back into the hands of the people and not in the hands of activist judges and lawyers Those judges will be outed and, in time, removed from office. We will insure the activist lawyers are labeled for what they really are. We will become their rabid watchdogs."
"I will now take your questions."
"Mr. Coleman, Dave Jenress, Daily Sentinel, "You live quite a ways out of town, why are you opening a center here?"
"Thank you, Mr. Jenress, for your interest in where I live. To answer your question, although I'm a rural resident, I am still a resident of Mesa County It's better to fight them off-shore than on-shore."
"Next."
"Mr. Coleman, I see no evidence of this new Center addressing the misdeeds done to the LGBTQIA+ community."
"Well Miss Harmon, if it is a crime, it will be addressed, not matter which level of society is involved, and I'm glad you asked that question." Cal grinned.
"Oh Crap! Lock and load!" Andy whispered to Chief Hartman.
"I had to look up that acronym to see just what it meant. The acronym LGBTQIA+ describes the community of people who don't identify as heterosexual, straight, or that stupid name, cisgender. So? They don't want to identify as what some people don't consider normal? Big deal. That's been going on since the beginning of time. People that felt like they didn't belong with the accepted 'normal', blazed trails in this country. One such group endured loneliness for months and faced countless dangers to explore and to bring back the riches of new frontiers. We know them today as the Mountain Men.
But they didn't come back from their dangerous ventures and wave weird looking flags and dressed obscenely or waved signs proclaiming how different they were. They accepted their lot in life and kept to those of their kind. There wasn't any big push to brainwash children into being Mountain Men, or wedge themselves into everyone's lives attempting to make their lifestyle the norm. I think many of them realized their time would be short and they knew it was dangerous. They were different, but they exploited the bounty they came upon and because of their discoveries, were followed by those who were weren't so different and exploited what the trail-blazers had found. Soon these men, and from what little information I have found, and women, soon turned to the lives of the 'normal.' They became farmers, entered skilled trades, but still contributed to the growth of this Nation. The key word here is 'Contribute.' What has this new group of people contributed? Good feelings? Cures to the diseases they sometimes spread? Forced indoctrination? Extortion? Is their "reality" really for the betterment of society and the continuance of civilization?
Ma'am, we do live in changing times, but there are only a very few 'Right' paths we can take. Yes, that little bent tree in the forest is cute, but it is interfering with the other trees in the forest. Even though the shed leaves of the bent tree may provide some nutrients to the forest, that deformed tree will never realy contribute to the betterment of the forest unless it dies away and offers its space and nutrients to the rest of the trees.
Now, tomorrow, you are going to exploit the words I have used. There will probably be a dozen headlines that read "Cal Coleman Says LGBTQ Should DIE!" or "Cal Coleman says "LGBTQ Are Extortionist!" which would be true, or "Cal Coleman Says LGBTQ Don't Contribute To Society." That last headline would also be false. LGBTQ do contribute to society in some ways, but remember that little bent tree."
Yes, I'm sure the coming war on me will be sensational. You'll do all you can to ostracize and defame me. But you can't separate someone who is already separated."
"Those who know me, know me well, those who don't, can go straight to hell."
Dale looked at Earl. "Cal just threw down the gauntlet."
"Yeah, that big S.O.B. loves a good fight." Earl chuckled.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 8, 2021 13:58:21 GMT -6
"Do you think they took the bait?" Andy asked.
"We'll soon, no doubt, find out."
"Do you have any type of time line on this?" Earl asked.
"Nope. That's the Intel Center's job, along with Jeanie and Patty's input. They'll have an idea before anyone could move a mile out of Denver."
"You think they'll Come from Denver then?" Dale asked.
"Patty says there are four ANTIFA groups and many non-member supporters in the Denver area. It's been quiet there for the last few weeks, so they are probably ready for some mischief. She and Jeanie also have feelers out in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. We have other sources we are monitoring that will give us information at the national level. Also, Jeanie and Patty are monitoring some loosely affiliated activists that aren't publicly tied to any extremist groups but have been at all the major demonstrations. They are keeping ties using facial identification. Two were seen with pistols."
"Well, keep us updated." Earl said.
"No need. Just check with the Intel Center. Chase convinced them to put out a daily intel brief that will be ready every morning for you. Anything urgent will get you a face-to-face notification."
A few days later, at almost the same time, Chief Dale Hartman and Sheriff Earl Gilmore got the same message, "Come to the Intel Center."
Detective Moss brief them both.
"As much as we've determined, a group of activists are due to leave the Denver area on Friday afternoon in route to Grand Junction. They will rendezvous at the Parachute Rest Stop before continuing to this area. We have tentative identification of eight of the twelve personnel. Two of the personnel have rented rooms at the La Quinta Inn for the weekend. We will have someone tag the cars when they stop in Parachute so they can be easily tracked with the helicopter."
"Well, Dale, I guess you'll cover the welcoming committee with my people as backup?"
"Yeah, and we'll make sure they are escorted back up I-70 to the county line."
It was close to dusk as the four cars pulled into the Parachute Rest Stop. When the people got out of the vehicles and went inside the truck stop, Adam flew the drone over the cars and sprayed clear, infrared reflective paint on the roofs of all four vehicles. It turned out it wasn't really necessary because the never deviated from their four car convoy. The helicopter was able to keep them under observation all the way to 28th Street where they turned to go to the motel. There, conducting driver's license checks, were GJPD officers. The first car pulled up and the rest of the little convoy stopped behind it.
"License and Registration please."
The driver hand the officer his driver's license and registration card.
"No, I need the registration AND the licenses or I.D.s of everyone in the vehicle."
Everyone reluctantly handed the cards to the officer. The officer went back to his patrol car and rand the license information. While he was doing that, three other officers when to check the other cars. When the officers tallied their information, each car had at least one occupant with a warrant out on them. The licenses and I.D. cards were returned to the occupants. The first officer called the three drivers over.
"Gentlemen, we won't allow you to enter the city…"
"You can't do that! We have our rights!"
"Yes, you do have your rights. But the right to enter Grand Junction ended right where you car is parked. Now, what is going to happen is, we are going to block the other lane to allow you to do a U-turn and return the way you came. And I'll tell you now. Any attempt deviate from your route here, and your engine blocks can and will be blown to smithereens with a fifty caliber rifle round. You will be provide an escort to the county line by Sheriff's Department patrol cars to see that you don't lose your way."
"But I need to go to the bathroom!"
"There is a rest stop in Parachute. I'm sure the Sheriff's Deputies will ignore any speeding you might have to do in order to keep you from losing your dignity. Good evening gentlemen."
The cars did a U-turn and as said, the Deputies escorted them all the way to the Garfield County line. Just prior to reaching the line, a Deputy reported to the State Patrol the license plates and names of fugitives on I-70 entering Garfield County.
Chase and Andy listened as the officer briefed Chief Hartman. When the officer was dismissed, Dale turned to Andy and grinned.
"That was SLICK!"
"Well, it certainly beats a street brawl and burning buildings." Chase said.
"Andy, let me ask you something. Was Cal serious about what he said during that dedication speech or was he trying to goad a reaction?"
"Well Dale, he certainly insighted them, but those were his personal feelings and he was serious as two dogs screwing."
Dale nodded his head. "I figured so…"
Earl came walking in, laughing.
"This just wasn't those boy's and girl's day. Getting hassled in Mesa County then pulled over and arrested for outstanding warrants and assisting a fugitive from justice."
"Can they make that stick?" Chase asked.
"I doubt it, but it will give them something to think about." Earl said.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 8, 2021 13:59:55 GMT -6
"Ruh-Roh!"
"What?" Patty asked.
"Looks like Judge Lane is hiding things from the public."
"What? The 'Screen-door Judge'?" Asked Patty, getting up from her seat.
"Like $250,000 in a numbered account in the Cayman Islands. He's been getting regular payments there of $6,000."
"Maybe that's why he's so lenient when handing down sentences. Make sure he doesn't have any other legit sources of income."
Jeanie worked on her search for the next four days before she went to Andy.
"Andy, do you have some time?" Jeanie asked, poking her head around the door.
"I guess I'd better. You didn't ask for a moment or a minute." Andy grinned.
Jeanie laid a folder on Andy's desk.
"I stumbled onto something. I checked it out completely. Everything's there in the folder."
Andy read through the brief report and the supporting paperwork.
"Just how did you 'stumble' on this?"
"I got bored during lunch one day and, just for grins and giggles, started looking at banking transactions to offshore accounts from this area. It wasn't hard to find if you know what to look for. I almost missed it."
"And he has no other outside income? Stocks, bonds, real estate?"
"Nope. And he's not living beyond his means on his Judge's salary."
"But have you traced this back to a computer he has access to?"
"That's just it. The actual financial transaction doesn't actually show up from a computer, the amount in the account just automatically increases. I traced it to him because he logs in and checks the account a day after each deposit."
"And this is a regular thing?"
"Like clockwork."
"Stay on this a few more days. Tweak your 'interceptions' and as soon as there is another deposit, hide the deposit somewhere. See if you can tag where the transaction comes from. Let's see who he calls."
"Gotcha."
Cal went down to the horse barn and found Joshua and Cliff checking shoes on the horses. Actually, the were replacing shoes on the horses.
"Something wrong with the shoes?"
"Not really." Cliff said. The shoes they had on are unclipped. Now that we are working them more I wanted to change to heavy clipped shoes. The clips stick up in the front of the hoof and keeps the shoe from being driven back when the horse is pulling. With unclipped shoes, I have to keep a close check that the nails haven't loosened. I've been spending a lot of time either tightening or replace nails. I do need my beauty rest you know."
Cal picked up one of the shoes and studied it. Joshua was heating a shoe in the forge and hammering it to size. He checked it one more time, hit a couple of more blows then dunked it into the water tank. After the shoe cooled he hammered it on the horse's hoof and twisting the nails off. Cliff repositioned the hoof stand and pulled the shoe off the other hoof. Handing the shoe to Joshua, Cliff began to clean the frog and trim the hoof as Joshua began working on the next shoe.
"What's Ben and Odell up to today?"
Joshua chuckled. "They knocked out that asphalt roller and Odell got it his head the idea they could improve the road out to the fields, so they dragged in that Adams-Leaning Wheel Grader and started taking it apart. They were going at it in high gear when I left them."
Cal grinned. "Let them work. They are enjoying themselves and it will give the guys experience all around."
Cal watched for a while longer then walked out to the wagon barn and equipment shed. If they did one day have to go to horse farming, they already had the timeline they could go by to plant using horse farming. He would talk with Sylvio about farming the hemp completely with horse. There were a couple of binders that could be restored that could cut and bind the hemp to be put into shocks. On the other hand, they might not need to grow hemp much longer after this year's crop. Bryan was having the diodes made in the thousands so he may have enough to last years. Well, that was something he could talk to Bryan about before Spring.
Cal walked on down by the fields. They were ready for the winter. The men would start hauling the barn manure to the composter and would bag the compost, switching out the old left over from last year and put the old on the fields. They weren't letting any of it go to waste. The winter rye had taken and would add even more nutrients for next year's crops. It was satisfying, in a way, not to be using commercial fertilizer on their crops.
He turned and started walking back to the barns, just looking around.
When he got back to the horse barn, Joshua was still working.
"Gonna snow."
Cal looked up at the sky. "How can you tell?"
"My knee gets to bothering me when it's gonna snow. Not today, maybe tomorrow."
The team work of Cliff and Joshua was enjoyable to watch. They weren't really using any modern tools. Modern made maybe, but the same tools that had been used for hundreds of years.
Cal smiled. "We might just make it if the world went into a downward spiral."
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Post by gipsy on Sept 8, 2021 14:32:28 GMT -6
Thanks for the update. Just to let skeptics know antifa did shoot someone it Portland last week
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Post by paulk on Sept 8, 2021 14:38:29 GMT -6
Thanks again
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Post by udwe on Sept 8, 2021 21:25:48 GMT -6
Look forward to this story every evening!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 9, 2021 6:34:54 GMT -6
Akira was busy working on a piece of jewelry when Cal knocked on the door jamb.
"Oh! Cal. Please come in."
"Akira may I talk with you for a minute?"
"Of course."
"I'm building a Walnut chest for your Uncle. Does his family have any type of family crest? I'd like to inlay it on the top."
Akira turned and went to a wooden chest and opened a drawer. She took out a piece of cloth and brought it over, unfolding it and smoothing it out.
"In Japan, they are called 'Kamon.' My uncle's ancestors were members of the Hojyo clan who were powerful military commanders. As you see, it consists of four triangles forming one triangle. The center triangle would be either be gold, silver, or polished bone, depending on the rank of the clan member."
"Excellent. Now, will you help me do the Kamon with the center triangle of gold?"
"I would be honored. And I will tell you now Uncle Kengo will be quite taken with such a gift."
"Well, he has done much for us here and I feel like doing a little something to show my friendship and appreciation."
"When you have finished the chest, bring it to me and I will do the Kamon."
"Thank you Akira. I'll leave you to your work."
It snowed. It wasn't a blizzard, but it snowed steadily for two and a half days. Cal was beginning to think there might be something to anthropogenic climate change. There was a direct correlation between Joshua's knee hurting and the snowfall they had…therefore Joshua's knees were causing these winter conditions….if he used the screwed up logic of the dumbed-down sign-waving idiots. Snow removal wasn't that bad. It had only snowed eighteen inches, but it was not as powdery as it had been before. The kids had fun building their snowmen….five in fact. They wore themselves out. Brigid wanted to make a snow angel and the snow collapsed on top of her.
Siobhan finally ushered them in for hot chocolate and marshmallows toasted over the fireplace. Cal was in charge of that. The kids were so tired that afternoon that they all took a two hour nap before dinner.
While the kids were down, Cal sat and read the Intel Brief. It was not only the things Jeanie and Patty put together, but also information garnered from the LE Intel Center. No doubt The two women were data mining everything. So far crime in had dropped 5 percent in the last few weeks and indications were it would drop lower. The repeat offenders were being given stiffer sentences. Then he came to current intel projects and he read the possible about Judge Lane. Cal used the comment section on the report for further information. He hated crooked politicians made him steam.
Cal logged of the connection and turned the computer off. Leaving the study, he went into the kitchen.
"Need any help with dinner? " He asked Siobhan, then noticing she was on the phone.
"Sorry."
Siobhan muted the phone. "That's all right I'm just talking to Gabby."
Cal waved and walked out, He went into the shelter and the corridor lights immediately came on, startling him until he remembered Barry installing the motion sensors. Cal continued his walk until he came to the maintenance area. Jon and Barry were wiping down tools and putting them away.
"What's up, Cal?"
"Oh, nothing, just taking a walk. In here I don't have to trudge through snow."
"There is that! Hey, the Suburban is coming up for its quarterly." Jon said.
"Give me a call when you have time to squeeze it in and I'll run it down."
"No problem."
"I'll let you two get home. Siobhan should have dinner soon."
Cal walked back along the corridor and back to the house. He still had an hour and a half before dinner so he put on his coat and hat and went down to the woodworking shop. He put the chest he was making for Kengo on the work table and gave it a light sanding and applied another coat of the pure Tung oil he got from Paraguay. He tried to put a coat on a day, but checked to make sure the previous coat had cured. He was going for ten coats and then he would see how it looked.
When he got back to the house, the kids were just getting up.
Cal was just turning on the coffee pot the next morning when his phone rang.
"Cal, can you stop by the Facility this morning?"
"Sure Andy. I'll be there in about an hour."
"Judge Lane has been getting his payments his payments from Spenser, Jones and Hobson, out of Denver. They have a branch office in Grand Junction. He handle some of the higher profile cases Hiz Honor has been sitting on."
"Well, that isn't very Kosher." Cal said.
"Yeah, he's been getting the payments for almost four years."
"Well, how do we expose him?"
"I say we don't." Andy said.
"Go on…"
"I say we have him donate the money to the Advocacy Center and quietly retire, living off the pension from his Judgeship. I want to go after those shysters in Denver."
"And you'll get him to do this….how?"
"Leave that to us. 'Plausible deniability' and such."
Cal raised both hands. "I know nothing."
"Second thing."
"There's more?"
"Someone took a shot at the door of the Advocacy Center last night."
"Any I.D.?"
"Yeah, got it all on video."
"Have Dave drop him off in Los Llanos…alive. No I.D., no money. By the time he gets back to the States, maybe he'll have seen the error of his ways."
"Roger."
Andy leaned back in his chair and grinned. "Being President is nice, isn't it?"
"Shut up."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 9, 2021 6:36:25 GMT -6
"These are some strange steel workers." Gale thought. They showed up the day the girders started to arrive. She didn't see how they got there. She and Siobhan had gone into Grand Junction to do some shopping. When they got back, there were portable tool chests sitting against the wall, and men looking around at the excavation. They seemed competent and talked freely about the job with her and amongst themselves, but they stayed silent about anything but erecting steel. The specs of gold in the debris was noticed by the men, but nothing was said. The "Foreman" of the group even showed her one place she could reinforce without any extra cost. They had begun erecting the supporting posts when the excavation was half completed and had almost caught up with the work. Cal and Bill came in and stopped them one day and told them to take a couple of days off. They held a big BBQ down at the Facility dormitories, where they were living, and relaxed. They were all friendly with Cal and Bill and seem to have known them from before. Before they laid down their tools though, they did finish welding sheets of ¼ inch corrugated steel on the top of the huge steel frame. Bill and the workers had discussed some modifications and a second floor was added in the rear of the excavation so offices could be added. It was strange. Although the men had an appointed "Leader" each one seemed as experienced as the other. They all worked as one entity and things were done quickly. With the last of the excavating done and the last wall panel welded in place, the men quietly and efficiently put their custom tools into portable tool boxes and moved them out to the hangar. Using a riding industrial floor vacuum, one of the mechanics cleaned the already clean floor of minute debris.
Her job was over.
Later that night she heard a large jet aircraft land in the dark. She walked out on her porch to look, but saw no aircraft or runway lights. Gale shrugged and went back inside. Twenty minutes later she heard the jet engines again and rushed back out on the porch. Her eyes strained but still saw no lights, but heard the aircraft take off. Bewildered, she turned and went back inside.
"Well, is this what you wanted?" Cal asked.
"To a 'T', except there is no direct access to the Shelter." Bill replied.
"Diana is working one it. You guys get to put in the elevator up to the Maintenance Level corridor. She's already got the excavators running and should only take about four days. The elevator kit is in route."
Sylvio's men had some free time from their farm duties so he let them "play" with the road grader. But he made sure they did it right and not just push some dirt. They hitched up a four-horse team to the grader and took turns scraping the road. He had them form the foundation and embankments, build the subgrade and base, and using the horse drawn dump wagons hauled gravel for the base course and finally the finer gravel for the surface. Cliff called Jerry and Carrie and told them to come over and see what they were doing.
The men were working hard, but they were learning. Cal came down and watched with Jerry and Carrie. It was amazing to see the men use the same techniques men used over 100 years ago to build a road, or excavate reservoirs. They watched as one of the younger men used the asphalt compactor to ride up and down the roadbed until Sylvio was satisfied with the road firmness. He sent the dump wagon back to get filled with fine gravel again. When they returned, Sylvio had then drive the length of the road with the loaded wagon. Sylvio motioned for Cal, Jerry, Cliff and Carrie to follow him. They walked down the road behind the wagon, looking at the wagon tracks. The tracks barely showed. The road was, indeed, firm enough.
Cal gathered the men around.
"Well? Think you could build a road now?"
"Yes, we could Señor Cal. It would be slow because of the loading of the gravel. That takes much time."
Cal nodded. "I will work on that."
Jerry grinned. "Now that was a sight to see. I don't believe many roads have been built like that for almost hundred years."
"The horses did well." Carrie said.
"I agree." Cal said. "Cliff and the men treat them like children. The horses have learned to respond to them with trust. Now, while the thought is in my head, I'll need more of your help in training the horses to work around a steam shovel."
"A steam shovel?"
"You heard the man. The worst part of building just this small road was loading the gravel. If there is no fuel or modern equipment, the a steam shovel would seem to be the logical piece of equipment to acquire. Also, build a loading chute so the horses aren't too close. I'm concerned about the noise."
"Well, you get the shovel and we'll train them." Carrie said.
A lot of people were surprised when Judge Albert Lane retired. Relatively young, he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Cal went down to the Facility that morning for a meeting with Andy.
"How did you do it?" Cal asked.
"We closed out his Cayman account. Mitch made a visit to his house and left one of the un-serial numbered .38s with one bullet in the cylinder and a note 'OR RETIRE'."
"Yeah, that would give you some food for thought. What about the shooter?"
Andy shrugged. "Probably stumbling around Costa Rica until he can find someone who can speak English."
"Gary still own that airfield?"
"Yeah, but he won't speak English unless he knows you."
"What's next on the list?"
"Spenser, Jones and Hobson will soon be receiving visits from the Justice Department and the IRS. Anonymously, Jeanie dumped so much incriminating evidence in their laps we're sure to see the closure of their offices here and in Denver in the near future."
"Excellent. Well, when they have time, keep your bird dogs on the trail."
Cal rubbed the last coat of Tung oil onto the chest and sat it back on the table. He'd let this last coat dry for 36 hours before taking the chest to Akira. It was a thing of beauty, even if he said so himself. Disposing of his materials, he closed the door to the paint room, cleaned his hands, and went back to the house.
Siobhan invited Gale for dinner that night. It was sort of a celebration of a successful job completed. After eating, the kids all took off for the Rec Room and Siobhan, Gal and Cal, took their wine into the Great room.
"To a job well done!" Cal toasted.
"What are you plans now, Gale?" Siobhan asked.
"I start looking for a job, I guess."
"You could stay here." Cal said.
"Cal, there aren't many high-rises being built around here."
"Maybe not. What we need is your brain. I don't know if you noticed or not, but there aren't any droolers around here. We'd need your brain and expertise on some projects and I'm sure Gary could use your expertise at times. Otherwise, you could work with Diana and pitch in where you think you could help. I wouldn't be able to pay you as much, but for every project you have input on, you'd get a bonus."
"Well, it's not like I've had to spend very much since I've been here." Gale said. "Let me think about it."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 9, 2021 6:37:39 GMT -6
Gale parked the G-500 in the garage and picked up the partial bottle of wine off the passenger seat. Gale thought it was uncommonly good and Siobhan insisted she bring the rest home. Home. This did feel like she was home.
She came out of the garage and noticed someone at the fire pit behind the apartment building. It looked like Chase. She walked over, breathing in the cold air. It was a bit warmer tonight, almost 30 degrees.
"You really like the cold, don't you?"
Chase looked up and smiled. "Clears my head."
Gale sat down in the chair beside him, pulled the cork out of the wine bottle, took a sip, and handed the bottle to Chase.
Chase looked at the bottle, then looked at Gale. Taking the bottle from her hand, he also took a sip.
"Not bad, hunh?" Gale asked.
"No, that's pretty good wine." Chase said, turning the bottle so he could read the label by the fire light.
"Two Rivers Winery."
"I liked it so Siobhan insisted I bring the rest home."
"So, your job here is finished, hunh?"
"Yeah."
"Hmmph. I'll kinda miss running in to you suddenly in unexpected places." Chase said, looking into the fire.
"Yeah, me too."
"So, where do you go next?"
"Maybe, I'll stay right here. Cal has offered to hire me to stay here for different projects and to consult. I wouldn't be getting paid as much as I would be in a city, but I'm debt free and low maintenance."
"Hmmph. I wouldn't mind having a beautiful woman around to run into in unexpected places and who was low maintenance."
Gale blushed and stared into the fire.
They thought they'd get into February and into March without any more snow, but it didn't happen. The men prepared the equipment on the 20th of February for the approaching storm. Pocatello, Idaho was already reporting 60 inches of snow. The men went over the machines and made sure they were ready to tackle what they knew would be near blizzard conditions. All the men driving the machines decided to move into their quarters to spend the night so they wouldn't have to trudge through the snow to get to the snow removal equipment. Then the wives started talking and decided the families would move in with the husbands, then a party was planned. Soon there was a festive exodus from the cabins to the shelter. It was one big open house.
The snow began falling around midnight and the wind picked up but the system slowed and dumped a lot of snow before daylight. Cal got up around 0500 and walked through the corridors, with his coffee mug in hand, to the Monitoring Room.
"How does it look, Tony?"
"Rough as a corncob, Cal. We've got three plus feet and more falling. It is drifting more though. Maybe it will all blow away."
"Fat chance of that! What's the forecast look like?"
Tony punched a few keys on the keyboard and the Weather Channel came up on the 60 inch screen on the wall.
"Well, looks like our over-paid meteorologists missed another one. This storm was supposed to blow through fairly quickly and now it's stalled in northeastern Utah." Tony said.
"Eh. Par for the course. You need anything?"
"Nah, Buck is relieving me in another 45 minutes."
"Well, the women are cooking a communal breakfast this morning down in the shelter kitchen. I think I can smell cinnamon rolls now."
Tony grinned. "Well, I'll be there then!"
Cal went back to the house and refilled his mug. Siobhan, Alice, Amy and Judy were scurrying around carrying things to the Shelter kitchen.
"Make a list of what you're taking so we won't have to do this again." Cal told Siobhan.
"Already started." Grinned Siobhan.
Opening the shutters on the sidelights on the front door, Cal saw two feet of snow had blown onto the porch between the steps and the front door. He went through the enclosed walkway to the garage and got a snow shovel, a push broom and a mop. Returning to the front door, he put on his heavy parka, his trappers hat and his gloves and opened the door. Using the snow shovel, he pushed the snow off the porch, then cleaned the steps. Using the push broom he further cleared the porch and steps. After he went back inside and took off his coat, he used the mop to clean up the melted snow in the foyer.
Siobhan stopped as she headed to the kitchen and saw what he was doing. "GOOD BOY!"
Cal leaned the mop against the wall and made a sudden dash at Siobhan and started tickling her. Siobhan's screams brought the kids running out and they grabbed their Dad and started tickling him.
After breakfast, Cal, Joshua, Dawn and Ellen donned their cold weather gear and snowshoes and made their way to the greenhouses. The women checked inside while Cal and Joshua stoked the outdoor furnaces. The two men then went down and also added coke to the furnace that heated the equipment hangar and the composter building.
"This is rough!" Joshua shouted over the wailing wind."
"Let's get the women and get back to the house!" Cal shouted.
They got Dawn and Ellen and made their way back to the house.
When they walked through the front door, Cal noticed that Siobhan, or someone, had replaced the foyer runner with that ugly square cotton rug she and the women had woven for a 'storm' rug. Yes, even they said it was ugly. They had used cloth from the rag bin to make it. They always found a use for everything.
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Post by gipsy on Sept 9, 2021 7:26:08 GMT -6
Thanks for the update
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Post by paulk on Sept 9, 2021 10:07:07 GMT -6
Wonderful! Thank you.
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Post by paulk on Sept 10, 2021 9:11:01 GMT -6
More please!!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 10, 2021 10:41:21 GMT -6
Cal had to clear the porch one more time that day, then he, Joshua, and Ben went to stoke the furnaces. Nick called on the radio and said he and Mark were taking the SnowCat out to check the cattle. Everyone else stayed high and dry.
Nick called back and asked for someone to bring down one of the ToolCats to clear around the round bale feeders; the snow had drifted over them. Cal decided to go and take Ben. Before they left the maintenance area, Cal threw a couple of 10 foot chains into the back of the vehicle. When they got down to the feed lot, Cal had Ben clean out an open area and they would drag the feeder out of the drift into the clear. Cal and Nick used shovels to knock snow off the bale and moved the auto-feeder to a cleared area. Stepping up on a rail, Cal swept his arm across the solar panel and cleared the snow. Having done all they could do, they returned to the shelter.
The next morning, Cal again walked to the Monitoring Room. The storm was moving on, but a high pressure system to their northeast was pushing the storm to the panhandle of Texas. Oklahoma City was going to get the brunt. Cal went outside and saw the clouds were breaking and the wind had died down a lot. He put out an All-Call on the radio and announced they would begin snow removal at 0930 hours. After eating a quick breakfast, he went down to the Maintenance bay and began pre-operations checks on a ToolCat and started the engine to get the heater going. During that time, people started arriving and preparing their vehicles. By 0920, everyone was ready so Jon led out with the Oshkosh. Vehicles began streaming out of the maintenance bay door like ants out of an ant hill. Trailing vehicles would veer off and clean out an area and fall in line again. The morning burned away and by 1100, just some shoveling at individual cabins and buildings was left to be done. They returned the vehicles normally kept in the equipment hangar to it and pressure washed them before parking them in their normal spaces. Cal stoked the furnace again and turned up the blower to let the relatively warmer temperature dry the equipment off.
Cal went down to the woodworking shop and checked on the chest. Carefully installing the final solid brass hardware, he wrapped it in a cloth and carried it to the Shelter. Akira probably wasn't there but he could leave it on her work table. He turned the corner in the corridor and Akira was unlocking the door.
"Akira!"
Cal walked into her workshop and handed her the cloth wrapped chest. Akira sat the chest down on her workbench and gently unfolded the cloth.
"This beautiful!" Akira whispered Looking up at Cal, she said, "I will do my very best work."
"Thank you Akira. I'm sure you will."
Cal left the shop to return to the house. The corridor lights seemed a little brighter than they had been earlier.
Bill and his design team began receiving trucks with aircraft grade aluminum plates, tubing, various extrusion profiles, rivets, screws, various gauges of wiring, cloth and just about anything else you might need to build an aircraft.
The design team was busy in their offices doing CAD drawings and consulting each other on specific parts.
The tower tone went off on Cal's radio.
"Cal I have an incoming Lear." Mike reported.
"Roger."
Cal jumped into an EV and went town to the airfield. He watched as the aircraft landed and instead of it turning and taxiing to hangar #1, it continued to hangar 6, Bill's hangar. Cal jumped into the EV and drove to where the aircraft had parked. A couple of men were off-loading boxes which Bill and his guys were loading on the back of an EV.
Finally, Bob Gillum came out of the aircraft.
"Hello Cal."
"Hello Bob. What's all this?" Cal asked, waving at the boxes.
"Let's go inside and you'll soon understand."
Bill led them all inside and up to the offices. Bill, Bob, Cal, Paul and Brad took seats after the door was closed. Bob looked at Bill and nodded. Bill looked across the table at his father and said, "Icarus."
Cal, startled, looked a Bob then back at Bill and answered, "Daedalus."
"Cal, Bill, Paul and Brad are working a deep black project that only one other person outside out of this room is aware of."
Cal looked at the men sitting at the table. "Daedalus…Icarus, I taught you how to fly…."
Cal looked back at Bill. "Okay, I get it. Just don't fly too close to the sun on this project."
"I won't Dad."
"Okay, now I know what's going on. What do you need from me?"
"At this point, nothing." Bob said. "As you well know with Bill, you give him a project and just turn him loose."
Cal nodded. "Well, whatever I can do to support you guys, let me know. I'll leave you gentlemen to your project."
Cal got up and left the room.
He went down to the Facility to talk to Andy. When he walked in, Andy was grinning.
"I can't believe they caught you by surprise!"
"You heard that?"
"Heard and saw every bit. You didn't ask them what Bill was going to build."
"So, are you going to tell me?
Andy grinned. "They are going for an all-electric stealth drone whose electronic emissions are so hidden anyone looking for it would think it was a bird pooting. There is a lot of criteria that they're shooting for. I can give you a list if you want."
"Damn, I'm glad we are the good guys or next week the Chinese would be coming out with a new spy plane."
"I'm just monitoring security."
"I know. Now we not only have to think about industrial espionage…"
"Gillum said that only one other person outside that room knows of the project."
"Andy, the best kept secret is held by only one person."
"Okay, we'll keep a tight watch on things.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 10, 2021 10:44:11 GMT -6
It was cold when Cal went out, but he could see the slightest bit of smoke coming out of the forge chimney, so he headed there. Joshua was working on a piece of iron at the forge while Ben and Odell were taking apart something. Cal went in, his face flushing as the heat hit him. Unbuttoning his coat, he walked over to Ben and Odell.
"What is this?"
"It's a grain drill. We're getting ready for the Spring wheat planting. With two drills, things will move a lot faster. They're going to plant the wheat field entirely with horses this year."
Joshua left his work cooling and walked over.
"After we get the dents knocked out of the bin and sand blast it, it'll look a lot better.
"Ben," Cal called. "I want a small, working steam shovel. Track it down, get pictures, negotiate a price. If we have to restore it ourselves, we'll need a source of information about the shovel, any manuals, parts, etcetera."
Ben looked wide-eyed at Cal. Cal pulled a credit card and handed it to Ben. It was a Bank Card, but with Ben's name embossed on it.
"You travel when you need to, but keep Joshua informed. That card has a $25,000 limit on it. It won't pay for a steam shovel, but it will get you to the home run fence."
"Cal, you can trust me. I will find you a steam shovel. Odell, let's get this drill finished."
Cal smiled, and walked out of the shop, followed by Joshua.
"Cal, thanks. That boy's chest swelled up so much he almost busted his shirt buttons."
"Joshua, he's not a boy anymore. I have complete confidence in him. You should be proud to have raised such a fine son."
"I am Cal, I am."
The women of the Ranch, with some exceptions, controlled the ebb and flow of activity of the social aspects on the Ranch. They either decided or approved celebratory events and made sure they were first class. It was like an unseen, multi-brained entity. When they decided an event would happen, it happened. The men knew better than to get in their way. If it interfered with what the men were doing, or wanted to do, they found work-arounds.
The women wanted to have an event to celebrate the Vernal, or Spring Equinox, marking the beginning of Spring. The first day of Spring could fall anytime each year between March 19th through the 21st, so they decided to shoot up the middle and aim for the 20th. It would be a day of no work, just celebration. There would be games and events for both children and adults, plenty of food and drink, and recognition of individuals for specific acts of excellence. When Siobhan, Mary and Helen approached Cal, he was hesitant about some of it.
"This recognition thing has me concerned. Everyone on this Ranch does their part and then some. I don't want anyone think what they do is not appreciated."
"Cal, it won't be like that. The women will be doing the voting. They will write on a piece of paper some act that has made things better for the Ranch or a member of it. We made Darryl give up one of his liquor kegs and make us a rotating drum, like those you see for Bingo. Votes will be collected between now and the 20th and drawn then. Three slips of paper will be drawn and the people recognized."
Cal sat there a few moments, "Okay, we'll give it a try. But I don't want my name submitted for anything. What do you need from me?"
"We'll let you know." Mary said, and the three women left the study."
Cal took his mug off the peg hook in Casey's and sat at the Stammtisch. Sophia came over and poured coffee in Cal's mug, followed by Casey with a hot Bear Claw on a plate.
"Hot out of the fryer, Cal."
Cal looked up at the two women. "Okay, what do you want?"
"Why do we need to want something to give you stellar service?" Casey said.
Sophia grinned and took the coffee pot back to the kitchen area.
Casey sat down.
"Now Casey, you never ask for something you 'want,' but you aren't hesitant when it comes to something that is 'needed'. So, what is 'needed'?"
I've got employees that travel all the way out here every day to work. As you know, sometimes it is difficult, if not impossible to get here. It is sometimes down-right dangerous. I'd like to have some quarters her for them to rent, rather than have to drive out here. All are single. If they get married, then they'll have to figure something out."
"How many units do you need?" Cal asked.
"Five would do. Sophia already lives here, and I have six GOOD waitresses."
"I'll have Gary come out and talk with you. Make sure you feed him for free and you'll have him eating out of your hand. I'll fund for a 5-unit, single story building."
"Thanks Cal. They are good girls and will fit in."
"If you vouch for them, then they already do, Casey."
Cal finished the Bear Claw and his coffee and went outside to looked around. There was room at the end of the cabins for a building that size. They would have to build a large septic system, but water and power wouldn't be a problem. He could open up that other gas well and start using it. He called Gary and asked him to come out and talk to Casey. Cal went back inside and asked Casey to come out with him. He walked her to where he wanted the apartment building. After talking and walking around the site with her, they returned to the restaurant.
"Gary is coming out for lunch. Feed him well!" Cal grinned.
"Oh, I will!" Casey chuckled.
Chase was reading over some files when there was a knock at the door. He clicked on the one-button logout and closed the computer.before oprning the door to a smiling Gale.
"Hi! I'm putting a lasagna in the oven when I get home. Feel like some Italian tonight?"
"Sure!. I'll be over in a bit."
"Okay, see you later then." Smiled Gale.
Chase closed the door and took a deep breath. "This is getting easier," he thought.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Sept 10, 2021 10:46:17 GMT -6
Akira called and asked Cal to stop by her workshop. Cal started back to the house but was closer to one of the outside entrances so he entered the Shelter there. When he arrived at Akira's workshop, she showed him over to a table where the chest sat, covered with a black cloth. When she unveiled the chest, Cal was extremely pleased.
The Kamon stood out against the polished Walnut finish.
"What did you do the black triangles in?" Cal asked.
"That is black Tourmaline from Paraguay."
"It is beautiful. I believe Kengo is worthy of this gift."
"I also." Kira replied. "May I make a suggestion?"
"Of course."
"Tomorrow is my Uncle's birthday. We will have a small family gathering in the evening. That will be the appropriate time to present your gift to Uncle Kengo."
"That will be perfect!" Cal exclaimed.
"When the time is right, I will text you."
"Thank you Akira. Thank you so much!"
Cal began to wrap the chest in the black cloth.
"Wait!" Akira said, as she went over to a chest and drew out a blue cloth.
"Blue represents purity and calmness in Japanese culture. It would be better than black, which can represent death and destruction."
The two wrapped the chest in the blue cloth.
"I will await your text tomorrow evening. Again, thank you Akira."
Akira bowed her head slightly and Cal left, carefully carrying the chest back to his house.
The next morning Cal sat with Casey and Gary in the restaurant going over the plans of a 6-unit apartment house.
"Cal, when I talked with Casey and what she described rang a bell in my head. Around 3 years ago, we built this unit for a couple that was getting ready to retire. They had most of their retirement in stocks but wanted something more stable than the market was then, and now."
Cal looked at the plans. Thy were single bedroom units, with a living room with fire place, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, laundry, and a covered porch.
"What do you think Casey?"
"I like the layout. I think it would work quite well."
Cal nodded and looked at the plans again. "Gary, I'd like to make a couple of changes. A few years ago, when I was working for a time in Credenhill in the U.K. I saw a coke stove that had a glass door and coke storage on the bottom of it. It was made in the U.K. I'd like those instead of a fireplace. Also, add a breezeway on each end of the building with three one-car garages, each with access to the breezeways. Access to the breezeways from each apartment."
Gary took some notes and asked a few more questions.
'Okay, I'll go draw these changes up." Gary said.
"Casey, are you satisfied? Cal asked.
"Absolutely."
"Gary, let's do this with 2 x 6 wall studs and faux log siding."
Gary wrote the instructions down and stood up.
"I'll get back to you as soon as I've finished this." Gary said.
The little meeting broke up and he heard squealing in the kitchen and excited banter. Cal smiled, donned his hat and went out the door.
He walked out back of the General Store and on past the storage containers, a barrage of thoughts rolling through his mind, until he came to the wash. He checked around a rock for rattlers, then took a seat. Taking off his hat and running his fingers through his hair, he looked slowly up and down the wash.
He used to hate change, but just like this morning, the happiness on people's faces when change came made him accept it. He just needed to make sure to keep a tight rope it to make sure change didn't overwhelm them.
That night after dinner, Cal sat with Siobhan in the Great Room listening to an old vinyl Of Floyd Cramer's best hits when he received the text from Akira.
"10 minutes"
It would take him that long to walk there so he put on his coat and hat picked up the chest.
"I'll be back after a while." He told Siobhan.
He walked up to the little house and knocked on the door. One of Kengo's nephews answered and smilingly, waved him in. He took Cal's coat and hat and escorted Cal into the living area to see Kengo sitting in a comfortable looking chair, surrounded by his relatives. Kengo rose from the chair as Cal approached.
"Cal, welcome to my home."
"Kengo, I am honored to be here."
Cal bowed slightly at the waist.
"Meiyo aru Kengo, anata ga koko ni tōchaku shite irai, yōjin to shite, soshite dōryō to shite no anata ni taisuru watashi no sonkei wa hijō ni takaku natte imasu. Watashi ga anata ni sazukeru koto ga dekiru subete no tomi wa, anata ga watashitachi no komyuniti ni motarashita subete no okane o harau koto wa kesshite dekimasendeshita. Anata no tanjō o iwau kono Ni~Tsu, watashi wa anata ga watashitachi ni ataete kureta kōfuku, chie, soshite yōjō ni kansha suru watashi no kenkyona okurimono o anata ni okuru koto o kōei ni omoimasu." (Honorable Kengo, since you arrived here, my esteem for you as a friend and as a co-worker has risen to great heights. All the riches I could bestow upon you could never pay for all you have brought to our community. On this day of the celebration of your birth, I am honored to present to you my humble gift in appreciation for the happiness, wisdom and friendship you have given us.)
Kengo reverently received the chest from Cal. Two relatives helped him remove the blue cloth from it. When the polished Walnut chest with the Kamon was revealed, there were several soft gasps in the room. Kengo stared at the chest for several seconds.
"Arigatōgozaimashita." Kengo said, bowing slightly at the waist. "This means much to me. Watashi wa anata no okurimono o taisetsu ni shimasu....I will cherish your gift always."
Cal accepted a cup of Saki and stayed for about 20 minutes. He then begged forgiveness but he wanted to be at home to see the children to bed. Everyone stood with Cal and watched as he went out the door.
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Post by paulk on Sept 10, 2021 10:58:13 GMT -6
Thank you again and again. More please.
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Post by hunter77 on Sept 10, 2021 12:29:57 GMT -6
Thank you. I look forward to reading more everyday. It is always a pleasure to read the tale you spin.
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Post by sniper69 on Sept 10, 2021 14:45:00 GMT -6
ncsfsgm - thank you again for sharing your writings with us. I truly appreciate all of the chapters that you post.
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Post by gipsy on Sept 10, 2021 15:10:23 GMT -6
Thanks for the update
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